Paper short abstract:

In this paper, we will study how the identity of traditional 'Naga warrior' in the retold warrior folktales changed with colonization, and how warriorhood has been negatively conceptualized by the indigenous Naga community.

Paper long abstract:

The Naga retold warrior folktales are well-known traditional male centric stories, which currently are regarded by researchers as examples of establishing patriarchal dominance in the traditional oral community. However, traditionally these warrior folktales were not regarded as problematic nor viewed as gender biased and promoting patriarchy. It was only with the coming of colonization that gender hierarchy and sexuality power demarcation were redefine, and the warrior folktales were affected in their traditional frame and nature since it contradicts the kind of society the warrior is depicting. Moreover, warrior folktales are started to be seen as promoters of structures of gender and dominance against other non-warriors. Therefore, it is important to study how the identity of traditional warrior changed with colonization, and how warriorhood has been negatively conceptualized by the indigenous Naga community. Using textual analysis of two Naga warrior folktales, we further argue, with the help of Maria Lugones’ decolonial perspective, that we can reimagine the traditional symbolism of warriors in the selected retold folktales. These folktales/perspectives are created indirectly as and through embodied acts and behaviors and constitute Naga personhood. Hence, through these warriors’ folktales we can understand the traditional meaning of gender relationship and how they differ from the colonized gender.